A few years ago, our biggest housing problem in New Orleans was abandoned houses and blight. Today our biggest problems are gentrification and soaring rents. In an over-all economic sense, they’re better problems to have. But if housing is your personal problem, or your business is affected, the betterment of the overall economy is not so attractive.

Peter Ricchiuti’s guests on this edition of Out to Lunch today are both in the middle of this fast-moving stream.

Simone Bruni Crouere started out as the Joan of Arc of post Katrina New Orleans. You knew her from her pink dumpsters and her company name, Demo Diva.

Jonathan Leit moved to New Orleans from New York to spearhead a community property development company called Alembic Community Development. Alembic made significant contributions to developing properties that helped preserve communities.

So, now that we’re the victims of our own recovery success, what happens next? Simone Bruni Crouere and Jonathan Leit have some answers.

Photos at Commander’s Palace by Jill Lafleur.